Thursday, June 30, 2011

Today's Letters: Dear Mr. Loerke, at 10:30 last night we decided to wait in line to experience our first In-N-Out burgler.The verdict? More
cowbell
. MORE FREAKIN MILKSHAKE! Dear Five Day Weekend, you're finally here. (Insert long deep sigh). Dear Homies, before leaving the pool Mr. Loerke asks that I A) watch him do a front flip B) hold his breath underwater for 60 seconds C) perform a can opener worthy of a 10 pts or D) all of the above. Dear Love of my Life, this Saturday I've planned two secret date missions. Both require empty bellies. Get ready.

What's your favorite burger place? And don't forget ... TOMORROW is the last day to make a race donation if you'd like to get your name / company logo on our kayak! Thank you so much to those of you who donated yesterday!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Today's Letters: Dear Mr. Loerke, recently you taught me that if we time our morning run just right we can finish by running through our neighbor's sprinklers. AWESOME. Dear Tim Tams, last night I ate 4 of you. All by myself. And it was delightful. Dear Body, once there will come a day when I won't be able to exercise anymore. Thanks for being a constant reminder to run, play, and do cannonballs in the biscuit while I still can. Dear Beloved, yesterday you came home bearing gifts. And it wasn't even my birthday. To the moon!

What is your favorite thing about 4th of July? And don't forget, this Friday is the last day to make a race donation to get your name / company logo on our kayak!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Husband's Letters: Dear Mrs. Loerke, lately I've caught you wearing my new scrubs and white coat around the house. I think you look so cutie wearing my clothes even though they swallow you like a gigantic woobie. Dear Chimichurri Sauce, you require a ton of chopping but I think you make flank steak taste freaking AWESOME. Dear Tough Mudder, you are a 10 mile adventure race with ridiculous obstacles. Can't wait to meet you in October! Dear River Princess, you have 24 days until you paddle the KAW100. I'm now convinced you could win in an arm wrestling contest with Popeye.

Love,
Mr. Loerke

What's your favorite thing to eat off the grill? I'd say a rib-eye and my guess is Emo would pick grilled corn and portobellos.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Today's Letters: Dear Mr. Loerke, sometimes I catch you using our cast iron skillet to crush things when you cook. I like your resourcefulness. Dear Ellen, my nephew Jack would like to trade you his Lightening McQueen and Holley Shiftwell race cars in exchange for a dance with you across your coffee table. (Please circle YES or NO). Dear Sore Shoulders & Blistered Paws, if I didn't enjoy paddling so much I'd junk punch you all the way to Cambodia. Just sayin. Dear Husband, yesterday you went to the store while I took a nap on the couch. Reason #261 why boy roommates are awesome: they can still be productive while we make drool puddles on our furniture.

Happy Freakin Monday, Homies! If you could see any TV show live what would it be? Ellen would be at the top of my list, as well as riding around with Frankie and Mike on American Pickers. Pretty sure that would be my next dream job.

15 miles later we were done and on the road headed back to Dallas. It was a short trip, but Em and I learned a ton. We can't believe there's only 26 more days until our race!

Over the past four months ya'll have helped us raise almost $10, 000 for our race expenses and the McKeaigg Family adoption. We couldn't be more GRATEFUL! I mean, who does this? We're convinced we have the best friends, family, and readers anyone could ever ask for. THANK YOU.

We'll still be accepting donations through the end of this week (until July 1st) if you'd still like to get your name or company logo on our kayak for all to see as we paddle from Manhattan to Lawrence, KS.

In the meantime, Em and I will be hitting the lake getting as much time on the water as we can. My dad, youngest brother Campbell, Kent & Tim will be our ground crew supporting us from start to finish. We are all excited to meet you!

Our next photo is of sisters Becca and Rachel who had two reasons to celebrate this month. Congratulations to Becca for graduating from high school and to Rachel for graduating from Marquette!

Next meet Brittni, Becky, Fraser, Brooke, and Garrison. They spent the afternoon hiking at one of their favorite backpacking trails in Alaska. Bonus points for waterfalls and for extended hours of daylight!

Lastly, Meet Matt and Liisa's sons Gray (9) and Holden (10) who threw fist pumps in honor of their Dad, Grandpa, and Great Uncle for Father's Day. Way to rock that headband and moustache boys!

Since we have yet to receive a donut photo, last week's FPF mission still stands: Take a photo of you and your homies eating your favorite donuts. Extra jazz hands if they're from Gordough's in Austin, Top Pot in Seattle, or Voodoo in Portland. (Of course all other entries will be accepted).

To participate in FPF, send a picture of you and your friends throwing fist pumps and leg kicks to em{at}todaysletters{dot}com ... it's just that simple.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Today's Letters: Dear Mr. Loerke, yesterday I brought you my leftover green curry for dinner. You brought me your leftover sandwich and chips. I like how we look out for each other. Dear Nutella GO! Snack Packs, I have a feeling you and I would be besties like Han Solo and Chewbacca if I didn't have to order you online. You give Fun Dip a run for their money. Dear Winspear Opera House, September 12th, Bon Iver, third row, with two of my favorite people. Pretty sure my year has been made! Dear Husband, since receiving a plaque from my triathlon you have A) called me daily to congratulate me on my major award B) started referring to me as your "little aquabike" C) hung the plague on our kitchen wall or D) all of the above.

What's your favorite way to eat Nutella? (Here are 50 ways). I remember first falling in love with this deliciousness when I spent a semester in Israel. I'd eat it in a warm pita EVERY MORNING. Pretty sure it's how I gained 20 lbs in college.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Last night Em and I spent a few hours with our buddy Steve working on a small documentary about our race and mission behind it. It took almost 3 hours to shoot just a couple of scenes but it was well worth it. If you've ever watched this video before you've seen Steve's work. He is crazy talented!

We'll spend 4-6 more evenings filming but we hope to show you the finished product the week before our race. For the first time you'll be able to meet our friends Emily & Kent, as well as hear more about their story and heart to expand their family through adoption. Get ready!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Husband's Letters: Dear Mrs. Loerke, I know you're not much of a coffee drinker, but I love it when I find you in the kitchen with your nose in a bag of beans. Aren't they delicious? Dear Fartbox, when I brought you in for an oil change the Firestone man said, "This Honda is doing surprisingly well." Without reservation I gave a fist pump and a joyful, "Yessssss! Dear 103° Weather, after living in Dallas for 8 years I've learned to face you head on armed with a gallon of water and a post-run cannonball in the pool. You can't phase this man. (Ok, maybe a little). Dear Emma, this weekend you went with me to Bass Pro to buy you a kick ass light for your River Rocket. I think you are the coolest wife EVER!!!

Love,
Mr. Loerke

What would be your dream car?

Today's Letters is now accepting sponsors for JULY! Our blog receives over 200,000 page views per month and offers ad space as low as 30 dollhairs per month. We love to support small and local businesses, so be sure and shoot us an email if you're interested in receiving our rate sheet!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Monday, June 20, 2011

{To read why I would save the above items if our house was burning, go HERE}

Today's Letters: Dear Mr. Loerke, this weekend we watched ET under the stars, slept in, ate our 2nd frozen pizza together as a married couple, made homemade cobbler & blueberry jam, went on a run, and asked for each other's forgiveness at least a dozen times. GREAT weekend. DearLaundry, I am convinced you're never done unless I'm naked. That's all. Dear Foster Huntington,thank you for asking me to participate in The Burning House project. It helped me realize how much shiz I have that I don't really need. Dear Husband, sometimes when I kiss your face I can still smell your aftershave. I love this.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Today's Letters is now accepting sponsors for JULY! Our blog receives over 200,000 page views per month and offers ad space as low as $30 per month. We love to support small and local businesses, so be sure and shoot us an email if you're interested in receiving our rate sheet!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Our time at the lake on Friday was memorable to say the least. Pretty sure it was the closest Em and I have ever come to A) capsizing our yak B) drowning and C) yelling every 4 letter expletive we know.

The morning started off with an easy mile or so paddle after we dropped our kayak at the dock.

Then the wind picked up and Em yelled, "Ge ready to bitch up, Loerke!" (Have I told you how much I love this girl?).

Before we knew it, waves starting washing over the bow of our kayak.

Then water started pouring into our cockpits. Kind of like a firehose but not as fun.

I don't think we've ever been so thankful for our electric bilge pump. Watching it push water out of our kayak gave us hope of actually making it back to the dock.

Despite our best efforts, we ended up having to pull over along the shore. (If you double click on the above photo you can see how much water was in our yak).

Em then pulled our kayak up onto the grass and volunteered to run back and get the car.

Meanwhile, I tried to get our bilge pump working again to drain out the last of the water in our boat.

Once Em came back our adrenaline was still through the roof. Who would have thought the wind could have picked up that quickly? I never thought I'd say this, but after Friday's experience I'd much rather paddle in the cold and rain than in the sunshine and wind. I now have a new respect for that which I cannot see.

This Friday Em and I leave for Austin to spend time working on our kayak and paddling with our friend West. Last week he completing his 16th Texas Water Safari finish and placed 1st in men's solo. Congratulation's, buddy!

We did want to let you know that if you're interested in making a donation to our race or the McKeaigg Family adoption we'd encourage you to do so in the next two weeks. Soon we will be taking our kayak to get all tatted up with our sponsors names and logos and wouldn't want you to miss out!

Friday, June 17, 2011

To kick off this week's photos we have Tabitha and Annie (both University of Texas students) who threw fist pumps and leg kicks while hiking in Antigua, Guatemala. Currently they're spending the summer studying abroad learning Spanish and teaching English.

Our next photo is of Katie Pfefferkorn, the female Lance Armstrong of paddling. She threw fist pumps and leg kicks after completing the Kansas Half-Ironman Triathlon in Lawrence last weekend. Katie is also competing in this year's KAW100. Em an I only hope she'll let us touch her boat for good luck!

Next meet sweet Laurie's yellow lab Sampson who threw fist pumps in the midst of some intense Oklahoma heat. Way to go buddy. Pretty sure you've earned yourself three dog biscuits and a nap in the shade.

Next meet Kyle and Skye Crane throwing fist pumps at their wedding on Lake Travis in Austin last weekend. Congratulations to you both!

Next meet flatmates Hannah and Robyn who are in their final year of medical school in Scotland. These besties will soon be traveling as far as India and Zambia for some of their medical electives. Mr. Loerke gives you two bonus points for rocking scrubs and Littmann stethoscopes.

Our next photo highlights 60 high school students from Watermark Community Church who threw fist pumps and leg kicks before leaving for Camp Barnabas. These guys will be spending a week down in southwest Missouri serving and loving on kids with special needs!

Next meet Jessica (travel writer) and her fiance Dan (acoustic singer-songwriter) pictured here at the mud flats in Groningen, Netherlands. For the past several months they've been traveling throughout Europe after having left NYC to pursue more creative careers. I'd say working on an organic farm, writing, and performing concerts is right on track with your goal.

Our next photo is of Jen and Chad's twinners Lauren and Haley who celebrated their first birthday with fist pumps and zebra cakes. Pretty sure these littles might be the cutest 1 yr old's I've ever seen.

Next meet Malsi and her husband Russell throwing fist pumps and leg kicks in Costa Rica. These guys went white water rafting and experienced the epitome of an adventurous honeymoon. Congratulations to you both!

Our last photo comes all the way from Montgomery, AL. Meet Susan's husband who earned himself some major bonus points for throwing fist pumps and leg kicks with a Jolly Rancher flavored Bomb Pop. Well played, Chris!

This week's FPF misson: Take a photo of you and your homies with your favorite donuts. Bonus points for photos of Gordough's in Austin or Voodoo Donuts in Portland. (Of course all other entries will be accepted).

To participate in FPF, send a picture of you and your friends throwing fist pumps and leg kicks to em{at}todaysletters{dot}com ... it's just that simple.

House in Louisville, United States. Welcome to our restored 1907 bungalow, the Harvest House! Our 3rd floor loft is located in the Highlands, a creative, fun, and artistic neighborhood just blocks away from Cherokee park, downtown, and the best coffee shops and restaurants in L... View all listings in Louisville

Tim and I have been married for 10 years. We like to dance in our jammers, sleep late in the biscuit, build forts, write each other letters, fly fish, and travel. We also have a little babe named Brave who smells mostly like breast milk and fabric softener. (more)